A Cranky Alligator Is No Good For Anybody!
Earlier this week I saw these two alligators in the marsh pond looking like they were about to get very friendly. I figured the one in the foreground was a large male and the other a smaller female. I concluded this due to the fact that they stayed together side by side for a while. If it was two males they would not have gotten along at all, plus this larger one I recognized as being the one who feels he’s “head gator in charge” and his job is normally to patrol the pond and chase off all the smaller male rivals. I waited for a bit to see if there would be a love connection but possibly she was not in the mood because she just suddenly swam off to the side leaving our boy frustrated and alone.
At first he seemed to take the rejection well…he simply continued on in a leisurely float across the pond. But I quickly noticed that the big guy had stopped and seemed to be lifting his head up out of the water. Once he got his head all the way up he let out a loud bellow with a deep bass sound that could be heard across the marsh. So…apparently he was not too pleased with how his morning was going and with him in that kind of mood, it will be nothing but bad news for all the other alligators who might have been looking forward to a calm, stress free day!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
He’s obviously not a good loser, Phil. How could any pretty young gatoress not want to have a little romantic fling with him? 😀
A sore loser for sure Sylvia and I can’t figure what she didn’t like about him, he looked rather handsome to me but what do I know?! 🙂
Don’t you just love the sound they make? It’s so unique and intriguing…while equally nerve wracking!
Perfect description Katie, it is quite unique and intriguing yet can send chills down your spine at the same time. Those that have heard the sound are not likely to ever forget it. I have been out along side a foggy swamp in early morning and heard several close by start up, gets the ole heart pumping for sure!
Thanks for looking.
Hello Phil,
the last pic is unbelievable, the reflections are great, I hope, this gator have a calm and stress free day and you too!
Greatings – moni
Thanks very much moni I’m glad you liked these photos and we always hope they have a nice stress free day, makes life better for everybody. 🙂
Love all these shots, but the last one, especially. It’s like he hears your internal dialogue and is saying, “Whatchu talkin’ bout, Willis?”
He could be saying that and it’s funny too, we always talk for them imaging what they might be saying. 🙂
Thanks for checking these out.
They always look cranky to me☺
Oh no, they are almost always smiling! 😀 They have a lot to be happy about normally, they are at the top of the food chain out there.
Ein zurück gewiesener Mann kann schon ganz schön schreien, hm?! Aber morgen ist ein neuer Tag und dann kommt ein anderes Weibchen und schon ist alles wieder gut! 😛
Oh sorry, still again: A rejected man can scream quite nice, huh? But tomorrow is a new day and then comes another female and everything is good again! 😛
That is the idea and our friend Mr. Gator knows it! 🙂
Interesting to find out that lady alligators, as well as human ladies say “Not now, I’ve got a headache”!
That’s what it looked like Maggie. Poor fella looked a bit dejected as he was swimming off didn’t he?! 🙂
It turns out a lot of things can ruin your day.
Yeah and everybody else has to pay the price when Mr. Gator is in a bad mood.
Great shots full of detail!
Thanks Jan I’m glad you liked these gator pics.
How utterly sad. Perhaps he’s losing his mojo? 😦
That could be, he looked like he had it going on to me but what do I know? I do suspect that a lot goes on after dark in that pond.
I know just how the big guy feels; I’ve had one of those days too
Sadly, it’s happened to all of us.
A new great serie of photos from Your hand, well done!
Thank you Hans I appreciate you looking and commenting.
Aww, he’ll get over it I’m sure. Smashing shots Phil.
I’m sure he will too, there has to be a lot of attractive ladies in the marsh that will be happy to keep company with the big guy.
Thanks Adrian!
I see he has a mouth full of grass in the last shot. I hope he was not near a nest!
That pond is just chock full of weeds right now and he must have been dragging some along with him as he went swimming by. No nest in that area.
Awww, poor guy. In that last photo, he looks to be in a bit of a snit! (great photos)
Yes I do not think he was in a particularly good mood by the time left lifted up his head for that bellow.
Thanks for checking these out!
Nice shots. I hope, he calmed down.
Last I saw him he was swimming all the way across the pond but I did see him stop at one point where he caught and ate something so I guess food helped him forget his problems. 🙂
Incredible photos ~ they are such an intimidating, mysterious and beautiful creature.
They really are quite fascinating. The more time I ended up spending around them, the more I see them do and learn about their behavior.
Thanks for checking out the photos!
😆 I would have been happy to hear his deep bellow 🙂 What a story Phil, these takes leave me in awe both of these terrific creatures and your work 🙂
The crazy thing was…when he came up and started his bellowing I took a few photos then quickly switched over to video to hopefully get sound and action. But as soon as I did that he lowered his head and stopped.
I have one quick one here in this 11 second video so you can get an idea of how it sounds.
Thanks a lot Paula!
Thank you so much, Phil :D. I’ve just come to my office and this deep sound and his precious face (neck) was exactly what I need to get me going :D. THANK YOU (you are the best)
Wow Paula, I’m really happy you got a kick out of this! Thanks much for the kind words!
Most welcome, Phil 🙂
I too would have liked to hear a gator bellow. Nice photos as always.
Glad you liked the pic!
Here is just a quick one in this 11 second video so you can get an idea of how it sounds.
Wow, they have a low voice. Thanks.
I know, a real deep bass on that sound for sure. 😯
Learn something new everyday, I didn’t know they bellowed! 🙂
Yeah and I can tell you, once you have hear it you never forget it. 🙂
Check out this video for a quick one.
Yep that’s a bellow 🙂
Sure is! 🙂
Cranky women, alligator or not, can be rather spooky… 😄
Yes they can have their issues. 😀